Audio from 1974: Earliest circulated recording of Eddie Van Halen playing guitar
Friday, 29 January 2010
This is the earliest know recording of Eddie Van Halen playing guitar. He is basically noodling and working out ideas. Recorded at home (in his parent’s house) in 1974, when he was only 19 years old! The genesis of “Somebody Get Me A Doctor” and other great ideas.
The guitar playing ends at 7:16, and then you can hear a short recording of David, Eddie and Michael hanging out in a hotel talking to one or more girls.
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January 29th, 2010 at 1:03 am
That was totally awsome!!! That’s history in the making right there. Thanx for putting this up.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:12 am
wow…is this REALLY Ed? hmmm,…..wow, if so, a great find……who got this and how’d ya get it??? VH lives!
January 29th, 2010 at 4:03 am
Not to split hairs here but, if Eddie was 21 when
VH1 was recorded in 1977 ( released in ’78) wouldn’t
he be only 18?
I think I hear a bit of the “Act Like It Hurts” rythmn.
Thanks for posting this!!
January 29th, 2010 at 4:39 am
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
January 29th, 2010 at 5:29 am
where is all this stuff coming from? i thought ED had the clamp on all this bootleg stuff out there?? hmmm.. well maybe he’s so involved in writing a NEW album that he doesn’t care anymore.! we could only wish and dream. =)
January 29th, 2010 at 5:40 am
Thats Cabo Wabo right there at the very beginning!,,my God!!!
January 29th, 2010 at 6:06 am
Wolfgang is sneaking into 5150 at night and stealing tapes.
January 29th, 2010 at 6:22 am
Is this the sinister work of Wolfgang Van Halen?
January 29th, 2010 at 6:50 am
Ed was born in 1955, so he would be 19 by 1974.
This is great stuff, I love the old pre-VH1 stuff. Ed was still tone chasing, interesting to hear the riffs he came out with.
January 29th, 2010 at 6:52 am
It’s like opening a time capsule. Very cool.
January 29th, 2010 at 7:17 am
The online trading community has all the VH stuff (and more) you could ever dream of. No, EVH does not have this stuff under lock and key, and no this is not the sinister work of WVH- it has been available for quite some time. “Complete Zero”, “Golden West Ballroom”, “Gazzari’s Dance Contest”, “The Nightmare Before Halloween”, the 1978 U.K. soundboards and MANY more are are in circulation. Not to mention in their most pristine formats.
January 29th, 2010 at 7:34 am
Around the 6 minute mark is most certainly the beginnings of “OUTA LOVE AGAIN”
January 29th, 2010 at 8:13 am
if this is truely circa ’74, its nice to hear a little “somebody get me a doctor” riff sprinkled in this tape. very nice.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:17 am
interesting for sure … the video for the conversations part would be priceless
January 29th, 2010 at 8:31 am
LOVE that riff Eddie is playing at the beginning!! You can just feel the energy comin’ from that kid! They should use some of this old material for the new album…People would be blown away!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:57 am
Yeah great point PJ. I always thought VH should re tool some of the old unreleased material for a new album. Cuts like “Babe Don’t Leave Me Alone” “Let’s Get Rockin” “Down in Flames” “Believe Me/Take it Back”. When VH3 came out I had discovered all of those old outtakes and that was my new VH.
January 29th, 2010 at 8:58 am
the conversation at the end had me laughing my ass off. like keith said, the video would be priceless.!
January 29th, 2010 at 9:03 am
You can hear some cobo wobo in it. Very cool…..
January 29th, 2010 at 9:22 am
What a cool treat to hear first thing in the morning! Amazing talent Eddie had/has even then! Loved the conversation…thanks for sharing!
January 29th, 2010 at 10:43 am
very nice, I love hearing older stuff, showing the progression and growth of songs in VH’s catagolg. It sounded like some parts of cabo wabo, doctor, romeo delight among others; this guy has ideas galore
January 29th, 2010 at 11:24 am
Holy smokes, best post in a Lo-o-o-ong time.
You can even hear the first few strums of “316″ at 6:46 of the recording.
When he gets into “Somebody get me a Doctor” I can imagine the cymbals crashing in and Dave howling… I wonder if little Eddie imagined it the same way.
So glad this snippet was rescued from Eddie’s basement.
January 29th, 2010 at 11:36 am
Very Cool!
January 29th, 2010 at 11:50 am
FUCK YEAH, WE WANT MORE………
January 29th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Yea, you can definitely hear the Montrose influence in this early clip. I’m sure some of it came from Sammy Hagar’s guitar playing on some of the Montrose songs.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
iwannaberr – Sammy didn’t play guitar in Montrose. Ronnie Montrose did.
This recording is so special! Thanks, VHND.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
Ed always had a great rhythmic sense to his playing. You can hear it even in this early tape. I liked how he was messing around with dropping the E string.
January 29th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
U know? I found the simple life, ain’t so simple….
January 29th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
VH2008 – I was just trying to mess with everyone and get them fired up about Eddie being influenced by Sammy.
Although, I know Ed liked the first Montrose album which came out in 1973.
January 29th, 2010 at 2:13 pm
hahahahaha iwannaberr your terrible
January 29th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Forget the guitar stuff I want to know how things ended with the girl they were talking to. She sounded hot but a bit bitchy.
January 29th, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Thank god there are no tapes of me like this floating around … not that anyone would care … but it could prove embarrassing!
January 29th, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Was Ed trying to get her to make sexy noises? What a badass!
January 29th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Best freaking thing to be posted on this site in a long time.
Thanks VHND. I would love to know where you got it from?
January 29th, 2010 at 4:47 pm
Sweet!
January 29th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
HA HA HA! little did this chick know she was in presence of future rock ‘n roll legends.
January 29th, 2010 at 7:38 pm
MORE! MORE! WE NEED MORE!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
MAN…Where are you getting all this GREAT stuff? I’ve been back to the site every day to hear it all over again. Keep it up!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Everybody wants some, I want some too!
January 29th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
this is fantastic…the glimpse of Ed playing at his Mom’s house coming up with riffs in the middle of the night…heck, guitarists out there, we all did that. The audio at the end is a total timecapule…right out of ‘Dazed and Confused’. Fantastic! Now, for a new album please!!!
January 29th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
That was amazing!! Great post!
January 29th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
I LOVE this kind of shit. Whoever is getting this stuff out PLZ! Keep it coming. Or like the chick in the room. Keep it Cumming!
January 30th, 2010 at 3:43 am
Great stuff. I’d love to hear that re-recorded in 5150 note for note using modern gear. What guitar do you think he’s playing?
January 30th, 2010 at 5:41 am
Where is this online trading community? I’d like to get some of this stuff.
January 30th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
I’m glad that some of this kind of stuff is surfacing. It’s fun to listen to. It’s kind of funny to hear Dave and Eddie sound like teenagers. You know there has got to be Hours and Hours of this kind of stuff somewhere.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
I actually love the opening lick. He should give it to Dave and get on with it!
To hear this and then think about the progression he took to get to VH1 (eruption, on fire, I’m the one) a few short years later, is actually stunning. I would say the real genious kicked in shortly after the time this was recorded.
I can’t stop listening to it.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:41 pm
@ Rickie VH
Yeah I agree with you. That’s why I questioned earlier
his age at the time this was recorded.A huge jump in
two years.Also not once did he break into any kinda lead
lick at all. Surprising for any guitarist lol
Cool stuff though.
January 30th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
This is cool as , , def somebody get me a doctor , yes 4 sure they shd rerecord some of that old stuff man , it wld be great , act like it hurts wld be great with so,e vocals It wld be great if van halen brought out a true vh album , instead of the last few which were ed tryin to be serious . A rock n roll album , why not a jump imspired track , wld be great
January 30th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
bobalu,
check out jamtothis.com- there are many more online sources, but this is the most reputablem and by far the best torrent site. Educate yourself by reading the rules of the site, and adhere to them. If you do, in time you will be rewarded with many gems…
vhboots.com is a pretty complete list of what’s available
January 30th, 2010 at 8:26 pm
sweet
January 31st, 2010 at 7:18 pm
great stuff, i want more
January 31st, 2010 at 8:45 pm
I heard Aerosmith might be auditioning new singers. While the proposition is ridiculous to me, I wonder if Sammy Hagar, DLR or Gary Cherone will run into each other in the lobby while waiting for their interviews?
January 31st, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Just kidding- Steven Tyler is unreplaceable in Aerosmith, it would NEVER be the same- Just like DLR in Van Halen…
February 1st, 2010 at 1:05 am
Steven Tyler could never be replaced, mainly because he’s been the frontman for so long now. If they’d done it 25 years ago, it would have created a rift like Sammy vs Dave, but it might have worked. It would be like replacing Mick Jagger now though.
It’s interesting that this “new” music got such positive feedback here. Hopefully someone that’s in some way connected to the band and can actually make suggestions might consider telling Eddie that he’s still got fans waiting for new music, as long as it kicks ass and isn’t some self-indulgent crap like a lot of what was on VH III.
If he really wants to release some more experimental stuff, do a double album with one kick-ass disc and the other whatever he wants to put on it. Better yet, sell them separately and see which one people actually buy.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:25 am
Interesting how its all rythym playing!
February 1st, 2010 at 8:40 am
Aerosmith was the “coolest” in the early to late 70′s.
The 80′s were kind to them….but to a point.
90′s they had their comeback, and at 19, songs like “Livin’ on the edge” and “Cryin” (who DIDNT like alicia silverstone back then? Mmmmm!) were cool but havent aged too well.
Groups are at their best when they are starving and just starting out. Not saying that bands dont get better with age, but personally all my favourite rock and roll hero’s were at their best and most creative when they were young, wild, and on drugs. Besides being one hell of a run on sentence, the truth is the truth. Aerosmith, The Stones, Deep Purple, Metallica, Guns and Roses, ACDC, ETC were stellar in the earlier years. Look at VH. You can be the biggest vanhagar fan in the world, but those first albums are monumental achievements and out of this world playing. As VH albums progressed they became less rock and roll and more pop and roll. Blame sammy, the band, or maybe the fact that their biggest selling #1′s were ballads, eiether way times changed, the band changed, and I stopped listening.
Aerosmith and the stones also became a shadow of their former selves as the years went on. I guess anytime you truly love a group there will be some dissapointments along the way.
I mean just the other day some character named:halenhagar called ME out for not being a fan of VH, just being a fan of david lee roth. Let’s think about that assinine statement shall we. Since I love VH with dave I’m NOT a fan of VH. O….k. Well, if you’re nothing but a hagar fan with VH doesnt that also mean you’re hagar fan? Why waste so much time thinking about such dribble? Because people like:halenhagar obviously NOT a fan of the classic era because he feels the songs are OLD. Some fan huh? Old? Moron. It’s called “ageless rock” my man. Classic VH was a staple of rock history and halenhagar says it’s old. Some fans really make me laugh. Calling the duck out for not being a fan of VH. Even though i’ve been a fan since the beginning. Funny coming from someone who gets into a band “8″ years after it began…..
Smells like a poser to me.
February 1st, 2010 at 8:42 am
Thanks Little Big Toe
February 1st, 2010 at 11:05 am
Right the fuck on, Duck!!! It really doesn’t matter what singer you like best, to me, they all fucking rock!!! BUT, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE CLASSIC VAN HALEN!!!! Give us a break halenhager, the majority of us on this site were VH fans since the beginning in the 70′s (ah yeah, the Whisky a Go Go days)!!! Shit, classic VH was the sound track to our teen years!!! Classic VH will NEVER get old, it will still be here long after we are all dead and gone from this trippy ass world!!! Now, THAT is “Ageless Rock”!!! Pay attention and take notes halenhager maybe someday you will get a clue!!!!
February 1st, 2010 at 1:34 pm
This is just stunning to hear this stuff. While Edward was noodling away here could he possibly have imagined what he was going to do to rock music? Could he possible have imagined that he was going to make a record that would make a million guitarist’s jaws hit the floor as soon as the needle hit the first groove? It’s fascinating to speculate what his impression of himself might have been.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Dirty Duck – I know what you mean about the way bands sound when they are just starting out. Hungry, rebellious, not yet affected by money and fame. But also I’ve seen bands get better with age like you mentioned as well.
You know I’m a huge fan of both eras. As well as being a fan of a lot of Sammy’s solo stuff and quite a bit of Dave’s solo stuff. I LOVE Sammy with Van Halen but there is a certain quality in those early VH albums with Roth that I really liked that aren’t really in the later albums.
Ya know, the little bit darker, dirtier, heavier stuff. And Eddie’s sound was more raw and heavy.
The “Balance” album started getting back to the heavier darker sound that I really liked. Anyway I’m babbling but Duck, I’m not nearly as big of an Aerosmith fan as you are. I like a few of their songs. Not love, but like……but hear is an interesting little tidbit of info you may or may not have heard. I read an interview with Eddie awhile back where he said (before Van Halen was well-known and famous) he walked up to Joe Perry after an Aerosmith concert and was trying to talk to Joe saying he was a big fan, inspired by him, etc. And Joe just like said “What….who are you? Piss Off!” What an effing arrogant Prick! And then Eddie becomes 10x the guitarist Joe was IMO
February 1st, 2010 at 2:39 pm
To me Aerosmith was the first 5 albums plus Live Bootleg. The rest of the comeback stuff was overproduced MTV crud, but at least they had their original singer…
February 1st, 2010 at 3:20 pm
How does a great story about uncovered rare EVH recordings turn into a discussion about Aerosmith??!!!
February 1st, 2010 at 7:01 pm
THAT………was cool. Heard me some Outta Love Again in there too, I think. That bit at the end with them faced in a hotel room with wimmins was classic. So very cool. Can you find anymore stuff like this?
February 2nd, 2010 at 9:19 am
When VH releases a new album, people will have new found respect for Wolf.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I agree with VHIII_1998. I’m sure Wolfie will sound amazing. He is a Can Halen you know. I mean Mike is awesome but he’s with Chickenfoot now and he’s happy so let’s look to the Future!
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Everybody should respect Wolfie?
He is the next Eddie Van Halen. It’s yet to be seen but could be a new and improved Eddie as well in every way. No disrespect to Ed of course.
He will also carry on the Van Halen name for the rest of our lifetime.
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:01 pm
“Outta love again” is one of the baddest tunes from VH….
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:37 pm
I’ll always miss Mike Anthony but the fact remains he’s moved on to better things. I’m saying, better for his situation because he’s with a band that’s in it cause they love the music and they all have respect for eachother. Mike never got any respect from Ed. That’s just the facts. But look at the songs they released without any of Mike Anthony’s involvement. Like almost the whole “VH3″ album and the 3 new songs on “Best of Both Worlds”… far from Van Halens greatest work. It’s evident that Mike has contributed a great deal to Van Halen’s success. Wolfie carried the bass lines fine at their last concert, well I can go see a Van Halen cover band do the same thing for like $15… if Wolfie wants to carry the torch and move out of his father’s shadow, then he’s got to prove himself.
I don’t care about his last name or who his daddy is. He’s gotta earn his stripes. Just like Eddie did back in the day, playing gigs at the Whiskey a go-go and having his demo tapes thrown back in his face until he finally made it.
…Let’s see what you’ve got kid.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:18 pm
Damn straight duck, “out of love again” is fucking out of sight and The Diamond one’s vocals are superb on that song!!!
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:27 pm
wolfang is not the next eddie van halen
stop smoking the eddie chips
and put down the EVH pipe
you are very very interested in only pleasing EVH if you actually mean that
avg. bass player if that…
no stage presence what so ever
and he stole his spot in the band
he did save his father and the band however so in the end
i think very highly of the cat
cool kid.
did not earn the fame however and will dog him for sure.
ed should just chill with this wolfgang stuff
enough already
second coming of blah blah blah..
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:29 am
One hopes that Wolf will carry on the Van Halen name, but what will he do that his father already can’t? And will he just be a clone in his guitar playing skills?
I watched a full live bootleg of Van Halen on the III tour with Gary in Madison Square Garden (22/05/98) and have to say, it was a really good mix of tunes and Gary did a great job with the older Roth stuff. You could hear that the fans loved the fact they ripped up Mean Street, Romeo Delight, and even I’m The One. Just a shame that Eddie’s stage behaviour with Mikey was so different to how he actually felt about him. I really do like III as an album, but its my subjective view. The first album I got of Van Halen’s was VH1, followed by 5150…two amazing debuts and still to this day can’t really decide who I prefer out of Sammy or Dave – I wasn’t around to see either make it big or quit – its all just history to me. But the MUSIC lives on and I’m glad I have 11 great albums to go back to every now and then.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:42 am
Well said rich. My first VH album was the best of vol. 1. I was like 10 years old and didn’t notice the singer switch after track 8 for 2 or 3 years and They were already my favorite band by that time. I love both versions of the band.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
I think its hilarious reading posts from some who have never even picked up an instrument!
Bashing wolf?
Bash away…. but what many of you fools wouldnt give to be able to stand on stage and perform classic VH songs.
I think wolf did a good job for a SIXTEEN YEAR OLD KID (at that time)who’s first gig was playing in front of 1000′s of people. Was he mike anthony? No he was wolfgang VH. Give the kid a break.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Tony:
I’m curious…..WHAT EXACTLY do you miss so much about mike?
Everytime I read a post someone always has to write about how much they miss mike. Do you play bass? Was he an influence? I know it might sound like im being a jerk but I’m trying to UNDERSTAND how mike leaving VH has made such a negative impact in your life. Please explain. Because personally,it’s getting like a knitting circle around here, and I’d like to know if I should hit the five and dime on the way home to get some thread….
February 5th, 2010 at 7:49 am
Duck:
I honestly was about ready to let the subject die. I’m sick of griping about it and yes, I know I’ve been beating the dead horse into the ground on like… every single comment I’ve posted. In case you haven’t noticed, all they’ve seem to be posting are old recordings and concert footage and all that seems to do is re-hash the same debate.
“NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MY LIFE”? — Hardly, NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MY FAVORITE BAND? — Definitely. Mike was always high-energy, not just his playing but his stage presence. His singing rounded off the vocal sound for Little Dreamer, Women in Love, Panama, Summer Nights and just about every other fucking on the list. His Bass solos were insane… also, I don’t know if you heard him play & sing lead in “Somebody Get Me a Doctor” — It was amazing. I do have an issue with him being there on every album since 1978 and then being kicked to the curb in the most dickish move ever.
Do I play bass? Hell no. I played the drums in highschool (poorly). My brother also played guitar — we’d jam out to the Diver Down tape trying to be like Ed & Al. LMAO.
How’s that for “knitting circle” talk. Now go get that thread.
And I SWEAR that’s the last time I’ll bring up the Michael Anthony issue. Which BTW, is why the original dude that ran this site sold it… cause he was sick of hearing all the bitching and whining on the subject.
February 5th, 2010 at 7:58 am
Oh yeah, and Wolfie — in case you didn’t actually read my first post, I wasn’t bashing him — just saying the kid needs to get some more exposure to earn some respect.
February 5th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Wolfie the next EVH.
Why not?
Word is he is more comfortable and shoud hold his own, be more comfortable, and have a stage presence. He can play all the instruments. He’s got a unique bass playing method. He’s close to EVH. I’m sure he has learned about everything there is to learn from one of the best musicians ever. It’s in the genes – He’s now at least third generation musician.
PR around Wolfie will certainly be better than Ed.
February 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Tony:
I know my post sounded like I was giving you shit but I really was intrested in your side. I hear it a lot around here but no one ever goes into detail why. Do I like mike? Absolutley. I love the whole orginal line-up. I dont think their will ever be another rck group like VH…ever.
Thats why we all fight..bitch…moan…b.s….argue…etc cause VH rocks!
Thanks for the insight and your views brother!
February 5th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Duck — it’s all good, man. I admittedly was really caught up in the whole (CENSORED) ‘NAME-I-SHALL-NOT-MENTION’ thing. I really have to let it go and move on.
& dude, we may disagree about certain issues, but I have to say AMEN on there never being a group like VH ever!
Likewise, Thanks for your outspoken views.
-PEACE-
February 6th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Tony:
My quack is bigger than my bite
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:11 am
Love that sound!
February 24th, 2010 at 1:06 am
This is from the 1rst tour. Ed was probably recording ideas. you can hear Roth lost the room key again.